1977 Challenger

Just wanted to post this in the show case, not because it's the most bad ass boat, but because it's a pretty damn close representative to a completely stock and original 1977 Challenger and how they came out of the dealerships back then. This boat was purchased new in 1977 by my dad in New Port Beach, Ca.

This is original interior, original harman marine 460 (never rebuilt only modification is the HEI distributor), original carburetor, original valve covers with original decals, original intake, original spark arrestor /scoop, original Bassett headers ( originally they were long collector but have been cut off), original Berkeley E pump, Giroux trailer (original trailer was yellow trailer always matched the secondary color on the boat), original trailer rims, I swapped the original trailer with the donor boat trailer so it's brown in some of the pics), original wiring, original gauges, original gel coat (most if not all of these boats produced had the same paint scheme), stearing wheel and rack have been changed in this boat due to lack of replacement parts for the old system (original cable froze), originally these came with a household shag carpet in them (donor boat still had it in it lol)

Anyways I just wanted to document for the future what the original 18 1/2 foot Semi V was. We seem to be losing history on some of these boats.

VIN info- located on Stern upper right side. VIN always starts with CHEC (manufacturer) then a series of numbers and a letter for the serial number then two numbers for the year of manufacture last a letter for month of manufacture ( A- January, B- February, C- March, ond so on)

FYI- I used and all original donor boat that had been stored 30 plus years to rebuild this boat. Not all the parts in this boat came in this boat but are exact to what did come in it.

I will say too that we used the S*@# out of this boat too as I was growing up it's been all up and down the river, San Antonio, success, Kawiah, Bass lake, Mead, redinger, and Powell just to name a few that I can remember. It sure as hell has never been just a trailer queen lol. Guess that's why I love these quarter stringer boats it has held up to some amazing things over it's life. Those of you who have ever been on Mead or Powell in a low profile 18 foot boat know exactly what I am talking about. Yes even sunk it once on powell in a surprise monsoon, yes completely under water but the nose, back out with the same motor in a day and a half never left the beach at lone rock. Damn tuff boat. I laugh when people talk crap about quarter stringer boats lol unless the are going with massive horse power.

Love hearing the old stories about these boats. I know exactly what your talking about on mead and Powell sunk mine on mead one time storms come out of nowhere on those big lakes, mohave also, we call mohave lake more choppy

Love hearing the old stories about these boats. I know exactly what your talking about on mead and Powell sunk mine on mead one time storms come out of nowhere on those big lakes, mohave also, we call mohave lake more choppy